About My Clients
I tend to work with a lot of neurodiverse people (especially ADHD and Autism). Usually, people come to meet with me when there's something going on in their life that they don't know how to solve on their own, like difficulties with school or relationships. I tend to focus a lot on how I can help them solve their own problems and recognize their strengths so they know they can do it in the future too. We typically work on coping skills, how to manage difficulties, and relationships.
My Background and Approach
I've worked in mental health in some capacity for over 10 years. In that time I've seen that there isn't a magic solution that works for everyone; after all, you are uniquely you! I tend to take an appointment or two to get to know you; then I use that to help you find ways that you connect with to reach your goals. Want some examples of how I've done this? Kiddos obsessed with Fortnite have made emotes (the little dances) to share how their feeling. Sometimes I'll pull up a GIF keyboard and have people use those to share how the situation went. I've got a few people (adults included) that need something to do with their hands while we talk so we've got a ton of Legos. I also integrate pop culture like movies, shows, and gaming. Sometimes a meme best describes something so “WHY WASTE TIME SAY LOT WORD WHEN FEW WORD DO TRICK” -KEVIN MALONE (The Office). Whatever helps you most is what I aim to do.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I understand that talking to someone about what's going on in your life can be hard; I try to make the process as easy as possible. I want people to be comfortable in whatever ways they wish (often I have people come in and kick off their shoes or pull the cushion off the couch and we sit on the floor.) I love working with the LGBTQIA+ community and have helped multiple people find ways to express their gender, pronouns, and sexuality in the way that feels best to them. I also have a lot of ties to the veteran community so I work towards supporting veterans and their families. I understand how the military creates a culture of its own so sometimes people react a little differently to things and that affects the family too (anyone who's been around first responders or veterans knows the sense of humor I'm talking about.) I have also worked with the crisis intervention assessment team for a local hospital. With this, I know different ways to handle suicidal thoughts and self harm.